A new study has concluded that loneliness spreads through social networks and communities like a disease, starting at the fringe of a social circle and infecting large parts of the group. If University of Chicago psychologist John Cacioppo and his colleagues are right that loneliness is contagious, what’s the cure?
Absorb happiness from cheerful friends: We think of lonely people as loners, says Tara Parker-Pope in The New York Times. But even the most social among us gets lonely—"the average person experiences loneliness about 48 days a year." You may want to choose your companions strategically. According to the study, interacting regularly with a vivacious friend can decrease that rate "by about 5 percent," while "a lonely friend can add 17 days of loneliness" to your life each year.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
Immunotherapy and hay feverThe Explainer Research shows that the treatment could provide significant relief from symptoms for many hay fever sufferers
-
The week's best photosIn Pictures A flooded island, a ballistic missile, and more
-
Who actually needs life insurance?The Explainer If you have kids or are worried about passing on debt, the added security may be worth it
